28 Best Day Trips from New Orleans, Louisiana (2023)

Day trips from New Orleans are always a good idea.

New Orleans, Louisiana, is a fantastic city to visit with loads of things to do — and eat — on even an extended stay. If you want to get out of town, though, there’s no shame in leaving the French Quarter for some fun further afield. 

We’ve spent a full month and then some in New Orleans, one of our favorite American cities, so you can dig into this guide with confidence that what you’ll read isn’t some robot nonsense.

If I don’t like something, by the way, I always say so!

Check out some New Orleans day trips that may be of intrigue to you, including all of my favorites from our month-long stay in the Crescent City.

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How many days is best to spend in New Orleans?

Three days is best to spend in New Orleans if you want a cursory overview of the city. Spend two days in New Orleans proper then head out of town on any one of the best day trips outside New Orleans.

Where should I visit after New Orleans?

You should visit the Gulf Coast, slower-paced towns just over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or areas of intrigue along the Mississippi River. It’s all waiting for you within a few hours’ drive.

New Orleans is also well-situated for day trips to towns throughout Alabama and Mississippi once you’re done traversing Louisiana.

What are good day trips from New Orleans?

Good day trips from New Orleans include swamp tours, Fontainebleau State Park, Baton Rouge, and the Whitney Plantation. Coastal destinations in Mississippi and Alabama are also possible on New Orleans day trips.

Are there day trips from New Orleans without a car? There are day trips from New Orleans without a car. You can take public transporation to some popular destinations from the city or book a guided tour. If you’re able, driving will be the most efficient use of your time.

You can also combine nearby day trips together for a full day of fun on the road from New Orleans if you rent a car. Reserve a car ahead of time using a site like Hotwire or Priceline to find the best deals. You can search by car rental company, too, if you feel a loyalty there.

Interested in a visual of all the trips I’ll mention here? Follow the Google link below:

GIMME MY MAP OF DAY TRIPS FROM NEW ORLEANS, LA!

1. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Distance: 6 miles+
Drive Time: 20 minutes+

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is made up of several sites in one. Several of those sites are part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, a region of 14 different Louisiana parishes that showcase the state’s rich Cajun history. 

We were staying in Arabi, Louisiana, during our month in New Orleans, so we were within jogging distance of the Chalmette Battlefield.

Fun fact: Brian literally ran there a few times. I did not.

The battlefield is the site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Visits on the property are self-guided, with interpretive signage along the way. Don’t miss the exhibits inside the visitor’s center, and the two short films that will give you a background on the site before you head out.

Here’s a bit on the other sites that are part of this system of parks:

• Barataria Preserve: Experience the wild Louisiana wetlands over 26,000 acres just half an hour from the city. If you time things right, you can link up with a guided ranger walk for more information on the flora and fauna you may see.
• Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center: Book ​​boat tours of Bayou Lafourche and learn about the Cajun culture along Louisiana’s bayous at this site, about an hour and 15 minutes from the city.
• Acadian Cultural Center: You’ll need to head out to Lafayette, just over two hours drive, to see this site. This history museum tells the story of the groups who settled here, including the Acadians, or Louisiana’s Cajuns.
• Prairie Acadian Cultural Center: This center is about three hours away, and it tells the story of how the cultures of the Cajun and Creole people blended with the cowboys to create something distinct in the Louisiana prairies.

2. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Distance: 28 miles
Drive Time: 20 minutes

If you’re seeking short trips from New Orleans, taking a drive down the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is an easy undertaking…unless you’re afraid of record-breaking bridges.

I’m mostly kidding. It’s not as bad as many people say. I’ve got it all detailed in my guide to the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. 

Expand your day with a visit to any of the small towns and New Orleans suburbs on either side of the bridge. Mandeville is just over the bridge and adjacent to Fontainebleau State Park, another recommended stop on this list.

Keep reading for a highlight in Abita Springs, another fun town with a great brewery and a whole lotta mystery.

3. Swamp Tours

Distance: 37 miles+
Drive Time: 45 minutes+

A popular day trip from New Orleans is a swamp tour in any of the surrounding waterways. Manchac Swamp and the mossy bayous near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve are popular options. 

We made our booking through Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours, one of the original swamp tours in the area.

I’ve done swamp trips in New Orleans before, but years before this last attempt. I remember guides back then feeding the gators marshmallows and other treats to get them to come up to the boats, snapping their jaws at passengers in awe of what they were looking at.

Well, it’s still a thing that happens.

I don’t love that we’re getting creatures with that many teeth so comfy with humans. While we only saw a little guy on our trip, our guide was also throwing treats at the raccoons who came by to visit us, too. Was it cute as heck? Of course, it was.

Do I love that all of these critters are associating humans with treats? Not especially. 

I do love that they employ locals for that added color on your boat tour, even if we’re being told that swimming with gators is perfectly safe. What if the gators mistake those little toes for marshmallows? I’m not here to find out.

Do alligators hibernate in New Orleans? Alligators don’t hibernate in New Orleans, but they do brumate. That means they enter a period of inactivity in the colder months but will come out on warmer days to bask on the banks.

That all said, if you hit the swamps in the winter as we did, you may not see much wildlife. They’re all hiding, trying to survive the relative chill just below the surface.

Want to do some comparison shopping for swamp tours from New Orleans? Check out these options:

4. INFINITY Science Center

Distance: 45 miles
Drive Time: 50 minutes

The INFINITY Science Center is just over the border in Pearlington, Mississippi. While a visit there no longer includes a bus trip out to NASA’s Stennis Space Center, it’s still a neat place to see, especially if you’re looking for day trips from New Orleans with kids or science nerds.

I don’t have kids, but I do have Brian.

My only beef was that the center is a little organizationally crazy. They don’t seem to have the staff to deal with large school groups, something we quickly realized when we had to share a line for both gift shop trinkets and tickets to get into the exhibit space.

Note: I don’t usually say this, but a weekend visit may be preferable for this one.

Highlights included the outdoor Biome Boardwalk, the Saturn V rocket, and the 3D theater. For just a few more dollars, you can watch short 3D movies inside. Ours was about predators, and I found it a great way to escape from the middle schoolers elsewhere in the exhibit spaces.

While it’s not the Kennedy Space Center, it’s an excellent place to spend a nerdy afternoon.

5. Fontainebleau State Park

Distance: 40 miles
Drive Time: 50 minutes

We enjoyed a brief visit to Fontainebleau State Park as part of a longer afternoon in nearby Abita Springs. It’s lovely, and I can imagine spending more time there in the warmer months. It’s one of the best beach day trips from New Orleans in the summertime.

Stretch your legs on the 1.6-mile Fontainebleau Nature Trail. You’ll see some interpretative signs along the way letting you know more about the plants you’re looking at. 

We missed out on one of the more popular spur trails on this one, the Alligator Boardwalk, as it was still being repaired following Hurricane Ida’s damage. The 3.7-mile Cane Bayou Trail looks perfect for those with more time.

The state park has an entry fee of $3 per person. When you park, you’ll see ruins of a sugar mill at the visitor center.

Fun fact: Those ruins are remnants of a mill built here in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville. The nearby town of Mandeville was named after him, so you know he’s a big deal in these parts.

6. Whitney Plantation

Distance: 46 miles
Drive Time: 50 minutes

I wasn’t that interested in a plantation tour while we were in New Orleans until I read about the Whitney Plantation, the only one of its kind in the state dedicated to the history of slavery on the site.

The tour at this one is self-guided. You can download a guide on your phone or use one of their audio devices to hear stories from historians and descendants of slaves who worked the sugar, rice, and indigo fields here.

You’ll walk through original slave cabins and the Big House, or the main house. One of the most moving stops was The Wall of Honor, a memorial dedicated to all of the enslaved people who worked the plantation over the years.

You’ll read accounts from those slaves, and the often matter-of-fact descriptions of abuse that was both physical and mental.

Additional exhibits inside describe the plantation’s more recent history all the way up to 1975, the year it was abandoned as an operational plantation. While it wasn’t slaves working the fields by that time, many of the workers there post-emancipation were descendants of slaves who had worked there before slavery was outlawed.

Low wages and garnished wages for food, clothing, and other necessities made it difficult for any of the free men and women to leave, so they essentially entered into an agreement with plantation owners that was slavery by another name.

Note: If you’re interested in a visit, book tickets online ahead of time if you’re interested in a particular day. I imagine it gets busy on weekends, although it was fairly empty when we arrived on an overcast weekday morning.

7. Abita Mystery House

Distance: 44 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour

Babydolls with gator heads. Aliens in lockup. A career counseling machine that told me I should be a bass fisher(wo)man.

It’s all waiting for you at the Abita Mystery House in Abita Springs.

This is the ultimate roadside attraction. Run by Louisiana inventor and artist John Preble, this place comes together thanks to over 50,000 found and recycled objects in varying states of…I don’t even know. You truly just have to visit for yourself to see.

Give them a call or check their Facebook page to see if they’re open. It’s only $5 to visit, and I promise it’s worth every penny. You pay as you exit, just in case you want to take anything home with you from the attached gift shop.

Give your visit that well-rounded feel with a visit to the Abita Brewing Company afterward. It’s just down the street, and you’ll want to talk about what you saw in there!

To make a day out of it, drive over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to get there.

8. Houma, Louisiana

Distance: 58 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This is Louisiana’s bayou country. If you really want to feel like you’re miles away from Bourbon Street — I seriously don’t blame you — Houma is an excellent choice for those seeking the best weekend getaways from New Orleans.

Book a fishing adventure, go wildlife-spotting at the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, or continue driving north to see the Magnolia Plantation.

The plantation is on the National Register of Historic Places, but it’s more well-known for scenes filmed here for the movie 12 Years a Slave.

You won’t be welcomed into the main house as it’s still privately owned, but 20 historic buildings on the grounds tell the story of the cotton economy and slave history here.

It isn’t as focused on the enslaved population as the Whitney Plantation, so if you’re seeking more of the real deal when it comes to the state’s plantation history, head there, instead.

9. The Mississippi Gulf Coast

Distance: 60 miles+
Drive Time: 1 hour 10 minutes +

The best day trips from New Orleans to Mississippi have to include the Gulf Coast. This is where Louisianians go to party…beach party style. Here are a few of the Gulf Coast destinations you can choose from along the Mississippi coast:

• Bay St. Louis: Go on a ghost ride, find your patch of beach from miles to choose from, or take a walking tour of filming sites for the Robert Redford classic This Property Is Condemned in charming Bay St. Louis. You can be there in about an hour and 10 minutes from New Orleans.
• Gulfport: Charter a fishing boat, spend the afternoon at Jones Park, and snap a pic of that giant rocking chair. If you’re with the kids, don’t miss the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a hub of interactive learning. This one is about an hour and 20 minutes from New Orleans.
• Biloxi: Biloxi is one of the more well-developed towns along the Gulf, which means you’ll have lots to do to fill the day or a weekend away from New Orleans. Head up to the Biloxi Lighthouse, find some nighttime intrigue along the boardwalk, or hit the casinos. Biloxi is about an hour and 30 minutes from the city.
• Ocean Springs: Ocean Springs is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, home to blissful beaches, impressive stargazing, and a variety of marine wildlife. I hear the camping here is spectacular, but it’s just not me, folks. You’ll get there in about an hour and 30 minutes.
• Ship Island: Ship Island requires a bit more effort, as you can’t simply drive there. You’ll need to get to Gulfport, first. From there, you’ll catch a ferry before getting to the island’s white sand beaches and Fort Massachusetts, built after the War of 1812.

10. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Distance: 81 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Baton Rouge has two state capitol buildings for you to check out — both are designated as national historic landmarks, which is pretty impressive — and something called “beignet fingers.”

If you’re not sold on it yet, the town also boasts a tiger on the Louisiana State University campus. It’s true. Mike the Tiger lives in a nearly $1 million enclosure, so it’s definitely upgraded digs over what you usually see at the local zoo. 

He purred at us, and now I want one. I’m not going to get one, obviously. Kimmy loves cats but it’s not mutual.

Sold on this one? Check out my detailed guide to our trip to Baton Rouge.

11. Mississippi River Towns

Distance: 86 miles+
Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes +

The Mississippi River cuts through 10 different states in the middle of the United States over 3,000 miles. New Orleans is well-situated as the terminus of the river, but you’ll be within a short drive of a number of river towns along the Great River Road if you’re feeling ambitious.

Baton Rouge, St. Francisville, Plaquemine, Vidalia, and Venice are all within driving distance. I’ll highlight Baton Rouge and Venice elsewhere on this list, but here’s more on the rest:

• Plaquemine: Drive over the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, see the historic homes of downtown, or marvel at the engineering of the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site. This town is just a little over an hour and a half from the city.
• St. Francisville: Explore the remote waterways of the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, stroll the Afton Villa Gardens, or go on a ghost tour at the Myrtles Plantation in this town in the West Feliciana Parish two hours north.
• Vidalia: Vidalia is approaching a three-hour drive from New Orleans, but it’s worth a stop if you’re following the river. Walk the riverfront to get a feel for this small town.

Extend your trip by following the river north into Mississippi, Arkansas, and even Tennessee.

12. Venice, Louisiana

Distance: 76 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

You don’t need to fly all the way out to Italy to experience Venice. You don’t even need to head out to California. Louisiana has its own version, and it’s even further south than New Orleans. This Venice in Plaquemines Parish is known for stellar fishing and its resiliency as an “end of the world” destination. 

The town has survived a number of devastating hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010.

The fact that you can still take a day trip out to Venice, Louisiana, is a testament to the local population and their refusal to give in to disasters both natural and man-made.

13. Bayou la Batre, Alabama

Distance: 139 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

We actually took a day trip out to Bayou La Batre during our stay in nearby Mobile, but it’s still easy enough from New Orleans. Our motivation to do so was simple. Bayou La Batre was the hometown of Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue in Forrest Gump.

I love a good pop culture reference.

I put together a guide to Bayou La Batre, but visits here are more about taking in the atmosphere. Stroll past the fishing boats at the harbor, plan a fishing trip yourself, or shuck some oysters at Murder Point Oysters.

I don’t actually like oysters, but Brian does. I let him have this.

14. Mobile, Alabama

Distance: 144 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

We didn’t travel to Mobile on a day trip from New Orleans, choosing instead to stay there a week after our New Orleans jaunt. It’s basically a mini New Orleans. Here are a few highlights from our Mobile, Alabama stay:

• Mobile Carnival Museum: I usually have zero interest in large crowds, but I do have an interest in learning more about local party culture. The costumes in this place are wild.
• Langan (Municipal) Park: This lovely green space is an urban oasis. Just don’t get triggered by all of the people feeding the birds while you’re there.
• The Cheese Cottage: What can I say? I’m a sucker for cheese, wine, and places that combine the two. This was my favorite spot in all of Mobile.
• Meaher State Park: We didn’t see any gators on our visit, but the boardwalk here offers some fantastic delta views regardless.
• Squid Ink: This eatery was recommended to us by two Mobile residents, and it did not disappoint. Can everything come on a potato bun, please?

15. Dauphin Island, Alabama

Distance: 154 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Dauphin Island is an easy addition to day trips that already include Bayou La Batre. Cross the Dauphin Island Bridge and there you are. The guide I already mentioned to Bayou La Batre includes some stops across the bridge, too, but the historic Fort Gaines is the big draw here.

You’ll be able to see the original cannons used in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War, complete with live reenactments if you’re lucky.

16. Fairhope, Alabama

Distance: 162 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

This charming Alabama town on Mobile Bay is ideal on a sunny day. Visit Fairhope Municipal Pier, the town’s fishing pier and general gathering place. Walk the trails of North Beach Park. Sip on pints at the Fairhope Brewing Company. It’s a great place to have yourself a relaxing time, especially if you’re in New Orleans during a busy time of year.

We took Kimmy on our own trip to Fairhope and found the town quite dog-friendly, too.

17. Jackson, Mississippi

Distance: 186 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

If the traffic is in your favor, you can get to Jackson in under three hours, but it’s really best-suited for a weekender from New Orleans.

I’ve only been to Jackson briefly to check out the bookshop scene there — Jackson has an impressive literary history — so I definitely owe this city a deeper visit. The Mississippi State Capitol, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and Eudora Welty House & Garden are all at the top of my list.

More Side Trips from New Orleans

Even with a full month in New Orleans, you can’t see everything there is to see within a few hours of the city. Exploring things to do in New Orleans alone will take a good chunk of time.

Here are a few more things to do outside of New Orleans that are still on my list:

18. Oak Alley Plantation (53 miles/1 hour): This is one of the most popular plantations to visit on day trips from New Orleans. I can’t say much about the authenticity of that one as I didn’t visit, but I can say the photos look quite beautiful.  Just keep in mind that sometimes there’s some ugliness associated with pretty things, too.
19. De Soto National Forest (102 miles/1 hour 35 minutes): You’ll need to head into Mississippi for this one, but it’s a great city escape for the adventurous sort looking for hiking near New Orleans. If it’s your first time, head to the Black Creek National Scenic River. It stretches for about 30 miles and offers plenty of wildlife opportunities.
20. Grand Isle State Park (110 miles/2 hours 15 minutes): The barrier island in Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish is big on fishing and birding, the second of which is highlighted during the annual Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration. If you’re here for some relaxation, the park is home to miles of pristine beaches and opportunities for dolphin spotting.
21. New Iberia, Louisiana (133 miles/2 hours 15 minutes): This is where you’ll find Lake Peigneur, the deepest lake in Louisiana, and the Bayou Teche, a waterway of over 135 miles. There are also all kinds of cute accommodations here for romantic getaways from New Orleans. It’s easy to combine with Avery Island.
22. Lafayette, Louisiana (135 miles/2 hours 15 minutes): Visitors in the springtime can expect blooming azaleas, best experienced on the Lafayette Azalea Trail. Don’t miss the aforementioned Acadian Cultural Center while you’re here, or just check out this guide to Lafayette highlights. 
23. Avery Island (138 miles/2 hours 25 minutes): If you like things spicy, you won’t want to miss a day trip out to Louisiana’s privately owned Avery Island. The island is less known for its geological importance as a giant salt dome and more for what originated here: Tabasco hot sauce.
24. Natchez, Mississippi (176 miles/2 hours 55 minutes): This historic city on the Natchez Trace Parkway is known for its antebellum mansions. It has more of them than any other place in the United States. Recent efforts to address the region’s violent slave history have made this an important stop on civil rights-themed trips, as well.

Best Weekend Trips from New Orleans

With more time, you can plan a New Orleans weekend getaway. Any of the options below are all over three hours from the city, so they’re more suitable as the best road trips from New Orleans. 

You could certainly tick these off in New Orleans side trips if you were feeling aggressive, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Some of these were really made for lounging.

25. Orange Beach

Distance: 196 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

This coastal Alabama beauty is easy to combine with some of the towns I’ll get into next. If you’re sticking to Orange Beach proper, the real draw is in the name. You’ll want to start with the beach when you’re here, as this is heaven for sunbathers.

I’m no beach enthusiast, but I can’t pretend like the sand here wasn’t lovely. Head to Orange Beach Waterfront Park for a classic boardwalk experience or Shell Beach for fewer crowds and sand dune views.

If you’re hungry, the seafood at The Gulf is almost as good as the water views.

26. Gulf Shores

Distance: 196 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours 25 minutes

Some come to Gulf Shores to party. We came for the history. Gulf Shores is home to the Fort Morgan State Historic Site, a 19th-century fort built to guard Mobile Bay. Its most talked-about claim to fame is its role in the Civil War and the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Yes, you’ve seen that mentioned in this post already. The region is lousy with forts connected to that battle.

Outside of that history, Gulf Shores has those pristine white-sand beaches and inviting warm waters folks love to lounge around. The seafood scene here is naturally yummy, too.

27. Flora-Bama

Distance: 201 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Flora-Bama is one of the most recognizable beach bars in the world. I’m not even kidding. It’s a whole thing.

This place that straddles the Florida and Alabama border has been serving up cheap drinks, quirky entertainment, and live music since 1964. I was curious enough about the beachside attraction that I celebrated one of my birthdays there. I definitely had a fun time, but it’s also going to be a one-time thing for me.

I mean, if someone wanted to invite me to the annual Mullet Toss I guess I’d go, but that’s where I draw the line.

28. Lake Charles

Distance: 206 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Lake Charles is big on outdoor adventure as the hub of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. If you visit, expect miles of bird-watching in marshlands bursting with wildlife activity. That can mean gators, too, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you’re not that invested in the fauna, this part of Louisiana is also known for its lively nightlife and casino scene. Gambling isn’t my thing, but I don’t hate it for you if you’re recreating responsibly. The Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino and Horseshoe Lake Charles are two popular options, but they’re not the only casino hotels here.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

We stayed at a long-term rental that I wouldn’t recommend during our month in New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have recommendations for you.

Use the map below for comfortable New Orleans hotels and apartments after you’re done with your NOLA day trips:

Where is easy to get to from New Orleans?

Towns on either side of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, swamp tours, Fontainebleau State Park, and the Whitney Plantation are all easy to get to from New Orleans.

That’s just a taste of everywhere you can go with New Orleans as your base. Cities along the sunny Gulf Coast, historic forts, and foodie adventures await if you budget time for day trips from New Orleans.

I’ve spent extensive time in the region and it still doesn’t feel like enough!

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